Chapter 53
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 53
Chapter Title: Escape Condition
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Flames erupted from the ground, scorching the plains.
The blaze devoured the green expanse stretching in all directions, turning it into a pile of ashes in an instant.
｢Kahaha! Insects not even worth calling bugs dare set foot in my home?｣
"Kyaaaaak—!!"
It reverberated through my mind like the voice of the spirit dwelling within me.
But the overwhelming pressure was incomparable to the trio I'd faced before.
｢The Voice of Flames... This isn't a gate.｣
'If it's not a gate, then what is it?'
｢It's a Great Spirit's nest. As you heard, a Salamander lives here.｣
It was the nest of the Great Fire Spirit, Salamander.
Unlike gates, its color could shift at any moment based on the Great Spirit's whim.
｢No nests have ever formed in this dimension, so you didn't notice.｣
'Why only Salamander's nest?'
｢Our nests are in other dimensions. No clue why this one nested here.｣
The three had crossed dimensions via gates and settled in, but Salamander had built its nest right here for reasons unknown.
From Salamander's viewpoint, we were uninvited intruders in its lair.
｢This is trouble. It hates anyone entering its nest. It'll chase you out, but we can't help—other spirits can't wield power here.｣
Uwaaaak!
If the spirits can't use their power, how the hell do I handle Salamander?
The rate of Yin Energy drain shifted.
From spoonful to ladleful—now it was guzzling the whole pot.
"Kuuh...!"
"Hah! Kyaaak...!!"
The six excluding me and Han Chaewon dropped out in a flash.
The managers had no chance to replenish Yin Energy—it was all sucked dry.
As the drain accelerated, I seized Han Chaewon's hand.
True to a Great Spirit, the suction was ferocious, but I'd toughened up too—my infusion kept pace.
"Hngh! Haaah... Hyaaaang...!!"
Only Han Chaewon in the center was perishing like that, but now wasn't the time for nitpicking.
Dozens of times, I refilled the Yin Energy Salamander siphoned from her. Han Chaewon collapsed in ecstasy on the ground, and I panted raggedly, glaring at the empty void.
Somewhere out there, Salamander was watching us.
At least ten climaxes endured—Han Chaewon's mental strength was something else.
Even if her pants were drenched and the floor slick with her release.
｢Hoo, you endured that. You're no ordinary human.｣
｢Wind, water, earth all clinging to you... How intriguing.｣
The roaring inferno split open, carving a path wide enough for a person.
｢Too much hassle to come here. Come to me. I'll hear your excuses at least.｣
'What if I refuse?'
｢Then wither and die right there. I see you've got more Yin Energy than the other vermin, but don't think it'll last. You'll run dry eventually. I won't.｣
Gnome had drained me dry once before, so it wasn't infinite.
No matter how much I poured in, I couldn't outlast a spirit that never tired.
Holding out here led nowhere, so I decided to head over.
"Can you walk?"
"My legs are all wobbly... Sorry."
For keeping her wits after climaxing like that, she was tough.
I turned my back to Han Chaewon.
"Piggyback."
"We can't touch though..."
I activated the Yin Energy Terminator to seal off any leakage.
"It's fine now. Hop on—even if we touch, no Yin Energy flows."
She hesitated, so I rushed her—no time.
She eyed me warily before carefully climbing on.
The squishy give rivaled Seo Nayeong or Oh Yeonseo.
"No reaction, right?"
"Yeah, for real."
She said that, but her hand stroked my shoulder, hunting for any trace of excitement.
True to form as friends, her response mirrored Oh Yeonseo's.
"Where... is this place?"
Her arousal had ebbed enough to size up the situation.
"Great Spirit Salamander's nest, apparently. Color shifts with its mood—no clue what it is now."
"So... it could be a Red Gate."
"If Salamander turned it red, sure."
"We haven't even cleared Green yet—what if it's really Red?"
"That's what we're checking. You heard Salamander? It'll listen to excuses."
"What excuse?"
"The truth. Thought it was Blue, no plans to intrude. If that flops... we fight. Words fail, what else?"
"How do we beat a Great Spirit?"
"We haven't tried yet. Get your body primed till we reach it. I'll stuff you full of Yin Energy later."
Gnome and Sylph bonded to my Yin Energy on sight; Undine needed two partners.
Never clashed with a Great Spirit head-on.
Sure, stronger than bosses probably—but no need to flinch before testing.
I'm the 'King' because I heed that kid's words.
"Good mindset."
Hm?
A familiar voice.
Ahead, a clump of light bobbed in midair.
The shop point from the unregistered gate with Seo Nayeong.
Han Chaewon cocked her head at the sight.
"That's the one from the ruins..."
Now that I thought about it, only Seo Nayeong had seen the shop kid.
I touched the light clump, and a girl with a massive backpack materialized.
The gate merchant from the desert terrain.
Han Chaewon's eyes bulged at the kid.
"A-a person came out!"
"She sells gate goods. Met her once before."
"That point... the lab couldn't crack it. Why does it react to you, Woojin? You touch it, and she pops out."
｢I only appear for the King. Others have no need for my wares.｣
"King?"
｢The class of the guest ahead. Curious? Ask him yourself.｣
Annoyed look as she tossed the question my way.
Bratty little thing.
"I'll explain if we get out safe. It's a long story."
I cut off Han Chaewon and addressed the kid.
"That 'good mindset' line—you?"
｢Yes.｣
"Meaning?"
｢Charging an insurmountable wall head-on—that's the King's way. Great Spirits are disaster-grade, sure, but shrinking before a swing dooms you. You thought 'let's give it a shot'—that's half the battle won.｣
"Win rate at 50%?"
｢No. Right now? 0%. Without awakening, you lose for sure.｣
"What're you talking about? I'm already awakened."
Then what's with this overflowing Yin Energy?
｢You're just firing arrows with the King's Yin Energy. That's not how the King's Yin works. Awaken as the true King, and Great Spirits won't be a worry.｣
News to me.
Kings need awakening too?
｢Buy this.｣
She proffered a tiny castle model.
"What's it do?"
｢King's Sanctuary. Use when you need intense arousal. You've got a prime woman right there.｣
"Intense arousal... huh?"
What the hell is this kid on about?
｢What happens when you transfer Yin Energy?｣
"Receiver gets aroused."
｢After arousal?｣
"Yin Energy fills up... Ah."
Skills upgrade.
Seo Nayeong's bow, Oh Yeonseo's summoning circle—leagues stronger than before.
｢All forged by your Yin Energy. Intense arousal as the catalyst.｣
"So if I feel intense arousal..."
｢Your Yin Energy awakens again. You're no mere vessel aroused by Yin—you need a rational trigger. A woman strokes or sucks you, you get aroused?｣
"I get aroused sucking too."
Corrected her omission.
｢Kingly nuance, as expected. Have the woman behind suck you off. Or do it yourself.｣
Heat radiated from my back—Han Chaewon's body was burning up.
Her face had to be beet red.
"This sanctuary—for that?"
｢Exactly. Field or boss area hookups? No consideration for the woman.｣
"I prefer outdoors... Hold up."
｢Why?｣
"Why no awakening with Seo Nayeong? She sucked me plenty. I got sucked too."
｢Not enough. Post-clear fling versus pre-battle, tension-maxed arousal? Not the same. Needs overflowing testosterone, oxytocin, and adrenaline for true ignition.｣
Desperate straits exploding into ecstasy—that triggers awakening.
With Seo Nayeong, it was casual vid-shooting—no tension.
Awakening conditions were trickier than I'd figured.
"Gotta do this every time?"
｢Yep. Better for you that way, no?｣
"Can't argue."
Prime the pump, then crush foes—what's not to love?
Fulfills carnal hunger and bloodlust alike—heavenly setup.
"Woojin... That kid means..."
"Yeah. To beat Salamander, I need to climax as hard as you."
I set Han Chaewon down from my back.
"Get me off. It's our ticket out."
```